Life Practitioner, Education ​/ Teaching

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Children's Services | Best Start Family Hubs | 0-5 SEND Support Service

Are you passionate about helping children get the best possible start in life?

Sheffield City Council is looking for enthusiastic and skilled practitioners to join our growing Best Start Family Hubs team as Best Start Inclusion Practitioners (BSIPs). This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a pioneering early years SEND programme that will help children with emerging additional needs access support earlier, closer to home and before difficulties escalates.

Working across local communities and Family Hubs, you will provide practical, preventative and relationship-based support to children aged 0-5, their families and the early years workforce. You will play a key role in strengthening inclusion, building confidence and helping children participate, learn and thrive in their communities.

As a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner, you will:

• Support the early identification of developmental and SEND needs in children aged 0-5.
• Work directly with families, early years settings and community services to provide practical advice and strategies.
• Help identify barriers to participation, learning and development through observation and professional discussion.
• Coach and support early years practitioners to develop inclusive practice and confidence.
• Deliver support within Family Hubs, community venues, homes and early years settings.
• Work collaboratively with education, health, social care and voluntary sector partners.
• Promote inclusion and early intervention, ensuring families receive the right support at the right time.
• Contribute to Sheffield's vision for a more inclusive and joined-up early years system.

We are seeking motivated and compassionate professionals who:

• Have experience working with young children and families.
• Understand child development and the importance of early intervention.
• Are passionate about inclusion and improving outcomes for children with additional needs.
• Can build positive relationships with families and professionals from different backgrounds.
• Are skilled communicators with the ability to coach and empower others.
• Thrive in partnership working and are committed to multi-agency collaboration.
• Can work flexibly across communities and localities.

Applications are welcomed from practitioners with backgrounds in early years, SEND, family support, education, health, childcare, community development or related fields.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape a new city-wide offer that sits at the heart of Sheffield's Best Start vision. You will:

• Be part of a new and innovative service.
• Receive professional development and specialist training.
• Work alongside Family Hubs, SEND, health and community partners.
• Make a real difference to children and families at the earliest possible stage.
• Help create a more inclusive Sheffield where every child belongs and can thrive.

We believe that children and families should be able to access support early, without waiting for crisis, diagnosis or statutory processes. Through the Best Start Family Hubs programme, we are creating accessible, inclusive and joined-up support that improves outcomes for children and strengthens family resilience.

Join us and help ensure every child in Sheffield has the best possible start in life.

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

Full-time…